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Denim Dictionary

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z

Aged

Anti-Fit

Anti-Twist

Antique

Authentic

Aged: A kind of wet processing that gives the jeans an artificial worn look and softer feel through prolonged abrasion.
Anti-Fit: Slightly oversized pants that look too big or long for wearer.
Anti-Twist: A step in the finishing process that corrects denims natural tendency to twist.
Antique: A denim finish achieved through sanding and washing to give jeans an aged look. It is also the name of a type of ring of denim with very uneven yarn - Antique.
Authentic: A jeanswear term used to describe original jean qualities such as traditional fabric weaves and styling details.
Back Belt Loop: A classic pair of jeans usually has five belt loops. Two in front above the pockets, two more at each side and one at the back.
Back Pocket Flasher: Paper, cardboard or fabric flap attached to the right back pocket of jeans giving the size, shape or brands message to the customer.
Baggy Pants: Super wide-cut trousers with a low slung waist and ultra low crotch. Inspired by skaters and rappers.
Ball Warping: A step in the denim making where individual threads formed in spinning are combined for further processing.
Bar Tracks: Can be found on nearly every denim garment. Bar Tracks are closely spaced stitches that connect to form a band or bar that re-inforces the corners and edges of pockets and seams.
Basics: Easy pieces made in denim such as the five pocket jean and the western style jacket.
Bell Bottoms: A jean style born in the late 60’s and made popular in the 70’s. Tight in the waist and thighs these jeans flare out from the knee down. The name “ Bell Bottoms” were given as the shape of the leg looks like a bell or a trumpet when viewed from the side.
Bermudas: Short pants that end just above the knee
Bib & Brace: Jeans with attached chest covering and over the shoulder straps.
Black-Black Denim: Denim where the warp yarns is black instead of blue which is also dyed black after weaving. This makes the jeans truly black rather than grey.
Blue-Black Denim: Blue denim dyed black. As the jeans are washed the black fades to blue-black.
Boot Leg: The most popular and flattering jeans style cut wide enough in the leg to accommodate a pair of cowboy boots underneath.
Booty Fit: Fitted at the waist &contoured for the ultra feminine physique.
Boyfriend fit: Loose style, boyfriend borrowed jeans worn low slung. A shapeless fit which can help hide bigger thighs & legs.
Brazilian Jeans: An ultra low rise jean that sits above the pubic bone and is cut to lift the bottom higher. Usually skin tight with stretch.
Brushed: The brushed effect is part of the post-treatment process. The thighs and backsides of jeans are scrubbed with an electrical brush that blurs sharp edges and creates a naturally worn look.
Button Fly: The original jeans closure that fastens at the front with buttons.
Cargos and Chinos: Comfortable, functional casual trousers with side pockets.
Chambray: Medium weight cotton fabric, usually a light blue colour.
Cigarette Jeans: Straight leg trousers with a slim fit and lean look.
Coin Pocket: The fifth pocket sits inside the right front pocket and justifies the term the five pocket jean.
Coloured Denim: Denim with a coloured warp yarn.
Comfort Fit: A relaxed fit jean
Contrast Stitching: Decorative stitching.
Cotton: The textile that becomes denim after a technical production process. America, China, India and Turkey are the largest cotton producers.
Crease: A light coloured streak down the leg of the jean created by laser or brushes as a decorative effect. Makes the leg look longer.
Crinkle: The effect is made by wrinkling jeans after dipping them in starch which gives a wrinkled look.
Cropped Denim: Jeans cut to below the knee or above the ankle.
Customised Jeans: Specially manufactured or processed jeans.
Carrot Fit: This style is shaped like a carrot. The waist is wide and baggy and the legs are tapered. \giving the illusion of height. Think- MC Hammer.
Carpenter Jeans: These are jeans with many pockets and loops which can be used to carry objects such as tools and are often loose around the leg to be able to accommodated the affixed items.
Cropped Jeans: Jeans that don’t go all the way down the leg.
Capri Pants: Trousers designed to end just below the calf. Think Audrey Hepburn.
Cinch Back: A buckle at the back of the jean that pulls in at the waist.
Classic Fit: Five pocket boot cut jean which suits all body types and never dates.
Cut Offs: Jeans with legs cut off.
Denim: A cotton twill fabric. Originally known as a work wear fabric since the late 18th century. Now a staple in most peoples wardrobe.
Destroyed: A type of process that shreds jeans with knives and scissors.
Denim Blazer: Classic jacket with buttons and collar, similar to the suit jacket.
Denim Dress: One piece skirt and shirt made from denim.
Denim Jacket: A classic styles. A denim jacket is a wardrobe basic.
Denim Hot Pants: Super short shorts that just cover the bottom area. Think Daisy Duke.
Denim Overall: Jeans and Shirt all in one piece. Functional as well as a fashion statement.
Denim Vest: Sleeveless Jacket made from denim.
Dungarees: Denim Jeans with a bib and brace attached. A work wear garment occasionally used as a fashion item.
Eco Denim: Environmentally friendly dyeing and recycliling process in the production of denim. Organic pesticides used in the cotton fields.
Ecru: Undyed denim. The natural shade of the cotton yarn before dying.
Elastane: Elastic fibre used in stretch jeans.
Embellishments: Decorative denims with embroideries, stitching, patchwork, rhinestones, fringes, appliqué’s, paintings and prints to give an individual feel to the jean.
Engineered Jeans: Launched by Levis a jean a 3d silhouette style allowing maximum movement.
Enzyme wash: An environmentally friendly alternative to stonewashing which makes the denim softer.
Easy Fit: Also known as the comfort fit. A loose and casual look.
Extended Panel Fit: Maternity jeans with the elastic waistband pulled over the pregnant stomach.
Fine Weave Denim: Very thin yarn used when weaving denim.
Finishes: Final treatments applied to fabrics in the form of wet processing.
Frosted Denim: A very pale blue wash, worn a lot in the 70’s and currently in fashion again.
Fashion Jeans: Must have brands, chosen for its heritage or which celebrity wears them.
Flare Fit: Narrow fit with a wider leg, the flare is cut from the knee to the lower leg. A good style to balance out bigger hips.
Five Pocket: The basic Jean with two pockets in front, two in the back and a coin pocket inside the right front pocket.
French Cut: Tight Sexy jeans with stretch giving them a second skin appearance.
Garment Dyed: The garment starts off in an ecru colour and then is dyed in a variety of shades depending on the fashion, giving a special characteristic look.
Grey Denim: A coloured denim with a grey warp or washed out black denim.
Hairy Denim: Denim where the short cotton pile hasn’t been burned off the surface and sticks up when the fabric is washed.
Hang Tags: Hang Tags are one of the most creative of marketing tools, attached with a ribbon or safety pin to the newly bought jean.
Heavy Weight Denim: Fabric heavier than 12-oz
Hyperwashed: Denim that has repeatedly been washed for a faded worn look.
Hip-huggers: A style of pants worn by both men and women, generally made of denim and fitted tightly around the hips and thighs, while flaring out towards the lower leg.
Hipsters: Jeans with a low rise that sit on the hips.
Hot Pants: The briefest of shorts for women, usually made from old jeans and cut down.
Indigo: A deep blue dye traditionally used in denim production.
Indigo Dyeing: The dye is only taken by the outer layer of the yarn so when turned inside out the white yarn is visible.
Japanese Denim: Very high quality denim from Japan. Produced slowly on traditional looms from high quality yarn. A higher price would be expected for a pair of jeans made from Japanese denim.
Jodhpur Fit: An Equestrian pants look that gives extra width at thighs and is tapered from the knee downwards.
Laser: Burns dye off the surface of the fabric giving effects and patterns to the jeans.
Linen Weave: When there is a content of linen in the denim.
Lycra: DuPont’s trademark for elastane. A manmade fibre called segmented polyurethane of ten used in jeans.
Length: Jeans length are measured along the inseam from crotch to hem. The longest would be up to 40 inches.
Low Rise: A low rise is a description of distance between the crotch and waistband of the jean. Hence the jean will sit low under the navel.
Mako: A refined type of Egyptian cotton.
Mercerization: A finishing process for cotton that uses caustic soda so the dye only appears on the surface.
Overdyeing: A process of dyeing yarns with more than one colour giving a unique coloured denim.
Overtwisted Denim: Fabric with with a crinkled surface from over twisted yarn.
Piece-Dyed: A process of dyeing pieces of fabric after they have been woven or knit.
Pre-washed: Denim before being washed.
Premium Denim: Exclusive higher quality produced denim typically from Italy and Japan. The phenomenon in the late 90s for LA denim such as Earl Jean, 7 For all Mankind, True Religon, Paper Denim & Cloth and Citizens of Humanity has continued to date.
Pre-Shrunk: To gurantee less than 2% further shrinkage when washed at home.
Palazzo Pants: A wider leg style that is fuller at the waist. Think pyjama bottoms.
Paperbag Waist: A loose pleated waistline. When cinched in with a belt gives the appearance of a paper bag.
Pedal Pusher: Ankle length women’s jeans.
Petite Fit: Made for women under 5”3 tall. The fit is graded down on a smaller specification.
Phat pants or Patties: A cut of jeans worn by ravers that are fitted at the waist but get wider down the legs all the way to the ground where they enclose the feet due to their width.
Plus Size: Sizes for the larger lady/man. Starting at size 14 to 34 for Ladies and up to 48" for men.
Raw Denim: A type of denim also known as un-washed denim. Raw denim has a dark indigo colour and has not been through any washing process.
Recycled: Either second hand or new jeans that have been refinished or re-worked before being sold.
Reverse Denim: Denim turned inside-out and all studs and zips on the reverse side.
Ring Spun: Yarn that is produced by using a “ring” for spinning. The handle is softer.
Rope Dyeing: Yarns are twisted into rope being dipped into the indigo dye.
Regular Fit: Five pocket jeans that are not too tight or loosely cut. A great basic.
Saddle Stitch: Often seen on jeans - a cobblers heavy stitch to give jeans an authentic look.
Sandblasting: A laundry process before washing to make the jeans look worn.
Second-hand: Jeans that have been owned or worn before.
Selvage: The edge of the denim fabric usually stiched with colour thread. Different brands use different colour thread. Levis – red, Lee – green and Wrangler – yellow.
Shrink to Fit: Jeans that need to be washed before wearing to fit well.
Snow Wash Denim: Or known as Acid wash. A white snow effect on the denim.
Stonewashing: A technique used to fade and soften the jeans through washing the garments with pumice stones.
Saharienne: A belted jacket with a stand up collar and four attached pockets with or without epaulettes.
Sarong Fit: Arabian pants with a low crotch that hangs to the knee.
Shoe cut: A slimmer version of the boot cut.
Skinny Fit: Slim, tight fitting jeans that can come in a variety of different widths approx 12” to 14” on the leg opening. More than often made with stretch denim for comfort.
Straight Leg: This leg shape goes straight down to the leg and flatters the bottom. A good alternative to the skinny leg for an older wearer.
Stovepipe fit: Skinny fit with tapered legs looks spray-on and is reminiscent of punks and 80s rock 'n' roll. A good style for Petite and Long and leggy body types only. Think Kate Moss.
Super Flare: A flare with a leg opening of 26” wide.
Turn-up: Jeans with rolled, turned or folded over exterior cuffs. This style shortens the leg.
Tracksuit Fit: Similar to the tracksuit pants, loose jeans with or without elasticated ankles.
Tube Fit: Another name for stovepipe fit.
Un-Washed: Jeans that have not been washed. For denim purists who wish to break in there own jeans.
Under the Bump: Maternity jeans with the elastic waistband sitting under the stomach.
Ultra Slim Fit: Second skin jeans.
Vintage: Old or second-hand previously worn or not can be sold for a good price.
Whiskers: The crease marks created in the washing process, also known as Buffies.
Wide Leg: A leg opening as wide as the thigh gives a classic sophisticate look, hiding hips and thighs. Gives the appearance of a slimmer silhouette.
Workwear Fit: A wide loose cut with worker details such as cargo pockets and tool holder loops.
Yarn: Spun fibers from which fabrics are made by weaving.
Zip Fly: Alternative to the button fly. First used in jeans by Lee in 1926.
Loose Fit: Slightly oversized pants that look too big or long for wearer.
Boot Cut: The most popular and flattering jeans style cut wide enough in the leg to accommodate a pair of cowboy boots underneath.
Boy Cut: Loose style, boyfriend borrowed jeans worn low slung. A shapeless fit which can help hide bigger thighs & legs.
Low Riders: A low rise is a description of distance between the crotch and waistband of the jean. Hence the jean will sit low under the navel.
Denim Mini skirt: The short denim mini can be one of the sexiest fashion items ever.
Fit and Flare: Narrow fit with a wider leg, the flare is cut from the knee to the lower leg. A good style to balance out bigger hips.